BJP workers stage protest against party’s Kalaburagi Rural MLA

BJP workers staging a protest against their celebration MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu in Kalaburagi on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI

Hundreds of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists from Kalaburagi Rural Assembly Constituency took out a rally in Kalaburagi on Sunday demanding that their celebration management not give ticket to Basavaraj Mattimadu, BJP MLA representing Kalaburagi Rural, within the upcoming Assembly elections.

The agitating celebration workers raised slogans against the MLA at Jagat Circle within the metropolis earlier than gathering at Veerashaiva Kalyan Mantap. They held placards displaying slogans against Mr. Mattimadu, that learn, “Remove Mattimadu and save BJP” and “Down with anti-Lingayat Mattimadu”, all through their protest procession.

“Mr. Mattimadu is basically an IPL cricket bookie who has destroyed thousands of families in the State for making fortunes for himself. After getting elected as MLA representing Kalaburagi Rural, he did nothing for the development of the constituency. He continued to rob contractors through excessive commission which has resulted in poor quality of development works,” district convener of Unorganised Workers Prakoshta of the BJP Veeruswamy Narona informed The Hindu through the agitation.

“The BJP, which is known for its discipline and selflessness, has earned a bad name because of Mr. Mattimadu in the district. We don’t want him to represent the party anymore,” he stated.

The agitating celebration workers then gathered at Veerashaiva Kalyan Mantap and unanimously resolved to demand that the celebration management not subject Mr. Mattimadu, who they held as corrupt to the core, in any of the constituencies within the State.

“BJP workers in Kalaburagi Rural Constituency have lost prominence because of Mr. Mattimadu’s dictatorial behaviour. Mr. Mattimadu is such a dangerous person that he has finished the political careers of those who have, day and night, worked for him. Mr. Mattimadu is exploiting contractors irrespective of their party affiliations by forcibly extracting over 40% commission from them. This has resulted in poor quality of development works in the constituency,” a BJP chief Satish Patil stated in his deal with to celebration workers at Veerashaiva Kalyan Mantap.

“He is also anti-Lingayat from the bottom of his heart. We don’t want such a selfish and dangerous person to represent our constituency. We appeal to our party leadership not to give ticket to him in the Assembly elections,” he stated.

Mr. Narona held Mr. Mattimadu liable for the division of celebration workers alongside caste and different pursuits within the constituency.

“Mr. Mattimadu has spent his whole tenure as MLA by misleading people who voted for him. He made fortunes as MLA and left the people who voted for him to starve. His greatest achievement is to divide the party at the grassroots level for strengthening his position and destroying his competitors in the party,” he stated.

He additionally stated that the BJP will lose even its deposit if it fields Mr. Mattimadu within the subsequent elections.

Local BJP chief Vijayakumar Pawar demanded that the celebration management give celebration ticket in Kalaburagi Rural to aspirants similar to Ambaraya Ashtagi, Kamalakar Rathod, Rajukumar Chauhan, Ambaraya Belakota and Sonubai Rathod.

“We are sure that the party will suffer a humiliating defeat in Kalaburagi Rural, if it gives ticket to Mr. Mattimadu who has discredited the party’s name in the constituency because of his selfish deeds. We are not batting for any one aspirant. There are five aspirants for BJP ticket and we don’t have any objection if the party leadership gives ticket to any one of them. We don’t want our party to field Mr. Mattimadu who has spoiled the party’s name,” Mr. Pawar stated.‌